Irish Open

Irish Open

Finding its roots back in 1980s, the Irish Poker Open – now named the Paddy Power Irish Poker Open, for advertising reasons – is one of the longest running No Limit Texas Hold ’em tournaments in Europe, second only to the World Series of Poker.

A well-known Irish Bookmaker by the name of Terry Rogers started the Irish Poker Open in 1980. Usually held over the Easter weekend, the tournament is the largest of its kind on the international poker calendar.

The Irish Poker Open has seen huge growth in the past three years; in 2006 the event, having outgrown the Merrion Casino, was held in Jury’s Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin. Subsequently, in 2007 the event was changed to the Burlington Hotel, Dublin to make room for even more players.

In 2007 the Irish Poker Open Main Event had a guaranteed prize pool of €2 million – twice the size of the guaranteed prize in 2006 – but with a European record of 708 players, the prize pool was increased to more than €2.3 Million.

More recently, the 2009 tournament returned to its 2008 venue, the CityWest Hotel in Dublin, and accommodated a field of more than 700 competitors – a larger than expected number, despite the massive field two years prior. With well-known celebrities in attendance, including Jennifer Tilly, Phil Laak, and 2008 WSOP winner Marty Smyth, Swedish star Christer Johansson took out the title, and with it €600,000 in prize money.

2010 sees the Irish Poker Open return to the Burlington Hotel for the first time in three years. The tournament will be held from April 2nd – 5th with buy-ins set at €3,200 + €300.

Past winners:

2009 – Christer Johansson

2008 – Neil Channing

2007 – Marty Smyth

2006 – Vincent Melinn

2005 – John Falconer

2004 – Ivan Donaghy

2003 – Joe Beevers

2002 – Nick Bernie

2001 – Jenny Hegarty

2000 – Alan Betson

1999 – Liam Barker

1998 – Mickey Finn

1996 – Liam Flood

1994 – Mickey Finn

1993 – Christie Smith

1991 – Colette Doherty

1990 – Liam Flood

1989 – Noel Furlong

1988 – Jimmy Langan

1987 – Noel Furlong

1986 – Bryan McCarthy

1985 – Irene Tier

1984 – Tony Byrne

1983 – Jimmy Langan

1982 – Frank Conway

1981 – Sean Kelley

1980 – Colette Doherty

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